Download and print the petition HERE
To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:
WHEREAS on July 1, 2026, Ottawa experienced a historic rainfall event that caused catastrophic flooding, damaging more than 6,500 homes and leaving many residents with significant uninsured losses;
WHEREAS the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program provides financial assistance for eligible essential emergency expenses, repairs to principal residences, and replacement of essential property following natural disasters when those losses are not covered by insurance;
WHEREAS many Ottawa residents affected continue to face significant costs to clean up contaminated homes, complete essential repairs, and replace necessary household items, but remain ineligible for assistance due to limited activation boundaries or the manner in which floodwaters entered their homes;
WHEREAS all residents should have equitable access to DRAO assistance, regardless of their Ottawa neighbourhood or whether flooding occurred through overland flooding or overwhelmed municipal sewer systems;
THEREFORE we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:
- Expand the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) activation area to include all Ottawa neighbourhoods where principal residences sustained eligible damage from the July 1, 2026 flooding;
- Ensure eligible essential emergency expenses, repairs, and replacement of essential property resulting from the flooding are assessed consistently under the DRAO program, including losses caused by overwhelmed municipal sewer infrastructure;
- Establish clear, fair, and consistent eligibility criteria so all Ottawa residents who experienced comparable uninsured essential losses from this natural disaster have equal access to DRAO assistance.